Modal - ORD Message
Welcome from the Associate Dean for Research
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the LUC/SSW Office of Research Development 2025 IMPACT Review, which highlights faculty scholarship, research, honors, and clinical achievements! In the current political and economic climate, where it can feel more difficult than ever to move our vital research and scholarship agendas forward, we remain firmly committed to our Jesuit principles and the pursuit of justice and equality. We are so proud to share the IMPACT of our faculty and doctoral students over the past year, including:
- Faculty scholarship encompassing a broad range of research contributing to the social work field in areas related to practice methods and theory, poverty, race, violence, and mental health. Each year we map our school research clusters to the Grand Challenges of Social Work to highlight how our faculty’s research aligns strongly with the profession at-large.
- Millions in funding from federal, foundation, and local sources, directly supporting student tuition stipends, as well as faculty engagement in migrant/refugee efforts, and practice with youth and families across Chicago. Congressional funding helped support the opening of our behavioral health simulation lab at the Water Tower campus this fall.
- Awards and recognition of the accomplishments of LUC/SSW faculty and doctoral students from LUC and a number of national organizations.
- Meaningful student engagement, with 71% of tenure track faculty involving undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in research activities, including co-authorship in peer-reviewed journals as well as numerous state and national conference presentations.
It is also important to mention that each day our faculty are engaged in inter-professional education and practice, innovative curricula design and implementation, and thriving private practices. While these moments of impact may not be highlighted in a report like this, they are nevertheless part of what makes LUC/SSW such a special part of Loyola, Chicago, and the national and global social work community.
I would like to take a moment to recognize the many contributions of Dr. Paula Carney, our former LUC/SSW Director of Faculty Grants and Scholarship who retired in the spring, and officially welcome Sarah Weisz, who joins us this fall to serve in that pivotal role. Wishing our faculty and doctoral students continued successes in the year ahead and looking forward to highlighting more impressive work in the 2026 LUC/SSW IMPACT Review!
Michael Dentato, Ph.D., MSW
Associate Dean for Research and Professor
Welcome from the Associate Dean for Research
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the LUC/SSW Office of Research Development 2025 IMPACT Review, which highlights faculty scholarship, research, honors, and clinical achievements! In the current political and economic climate, where it can feel more difficult than ever to move our vital research and scholarship agendas forward, we remain firmly committed to our Jesuit principles and the pursuit of justice and equality. We are so proud to share the IMPACT of our faculty and doctoral students over the past year, including:
- Faculty scholarship encompassing a broad range of research contributing to the social work field in areas related to practice methods and theory, poverty, race, violence, and mental health. Each year we map our school research clusters to the Grand Challenges of Social Work to highlight how our faculty’s research aligns strongly with the profession at-large.
- Millions in funding from federal, foundation, and local sources, directly supporting student tuition stipends, as well as faculty engagement in migrant/refugee efforts, and practice with youth and families across Chicago. Congressional funding helped support the opening of our behavioral health simulation lab at the Water Tower campus this fall.
- Awards and recognition of the accomplishments of LUC/SSW faculty and doctoral students from LUC and a number of national organizations.
- Meaningful student engagement, with 71% of tenure track faculty involving undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in research activities, including co-authorship in peer-reviewed journals as well as numerous state and national conference presentations.
It is also important to mention that each day our faculty are engaged in inter-professional education and practice, innovative curricula design and implementation, and thriving private practices. While these moments of impact may not be highlighted in a report like this, they are nevertheless part of what makes LUC/SSW such a special part of Loyola, Chicago, and the national and global social work community.
I would like to take a moment to recognize the many contributions of Dr. Paula Carney, our former LUC/SSW Director of Faculty Grants and Scholarship who retired in the spring, and officially welcome Sarah Weisz, who joins us this fall to serve in that pivotal role. Wishing our faculty and doctoral students continued successes in the year ahead and looking forward to highlighting more impressive work in the 2026 LUC/SSW IMPACT Review!
Michael Dentato, Ph.D., MSW
Associate Dean for Research and Professor